Dry cleaning machine



Jan'. 24, 1950 s. sTRiBLlNG DRY CLEANING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1944 Fl'l'gl.

Patented Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE y 2,495,488 DRY CLEANING MACHINE Sidney stribling, san Francisco, Cain?. Application August 21, 1944, Serial No. 550,356

1 claim.y (ci. iis-1s) l This invention relates to a machineand method of dry cleaning and more particularly to means and methods for dry cleaning Wearing apparel, fabrics and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is t-he simplification of the equipment and method of dry cleaning.

Another object is to reduce the dry cleaning and cleaning uid salvaging apparatus to the minimum, With a uid circulating means combined therewith.

Another object is the introduction of controlled heating units in the Washer and salvaging apparatus. 4

Another obj ect is to enable the selectiveuse of a variety of cleaning fluids in a single Washing c cle.

yAnother object is to provide a single fluid clarifying and salvaging unit adapted to a variety of cleaning iiuids.

Other objects and advantages Will appear as the description proceeds. In the specication and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form.

` Because it may be embodied in modifications within the spirit ci the invention as defined in the claim following the description.v

Heretofore it has been the practice to separate the dry cleaning Washer from the fluid salvaging or redistilling apparatus and t centrifuge the cleaned garments in a separate machine. A modern equipment usually comprises as manyY as ve separate machines, requiring excessive door space and rehandling of the garments being cleaned. The present invention requires the min imum of floor space and but two handlings of the garments, to load then unload the rotary Washer.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a tumbling drun washer unit in full lines, combined with a redistillation unit, shown in Vertical section, inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a tumbling drum washer shown in Fig. l, on the line 22.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the lterlng Units shown in Fig. l.

In detail the structure shown in Fig.v2, comprises the base I, adapted to be mounted upon the oor, and surrounded by the cylindrical splash wall 2. This base has the bearing pillars 3, l, integral with the base and having the bearings 5, 6 on their top portions.

The external tilting drum 'I has the trunnions lines.

8, 9, mounted in the bearings 5, 6. This drum is held in the vertical position shown by the spring latch I0 pivoted on the base and controlled by themanual link II guided in the wall 2. It is held in the horizontal position by the spring catch I2, pivoted on the wall 2 and manually controlled by the link I3 guided in the wall adjacent the link II, for convenience. The hand lever I4 is xed in the trunnion 8 for swinging the tilting drum 'I into the vertical or horizontal -alined with the cover I 5 on the tilting drum.

The shaft I8 has the pulleys 2 I, 22 ixed thereon and driven by the belts 23, 24 driven by pulleys on the shaft of the change speed gear box 25 which has the control handle 26,` by which the tumbling drum may be driven at speeds selected by the handle 26. The shaft in the change speed gear box is driven by the motor 2'I mounted upon the outside of the tilting drum l. In this manner the tumbling drum I 6 may be driven at relatively low speed in the horizontal position, during the cleansingl or washing cycle and at high speed for centrifuging the contents of the tumble drum free of the fluid, when the tilting drum is in the vertical position. n

The clarier comprises .the pressure tight tank 28, having a series of spiral steam pipes arranged therein about midway of its height and having the steam inlet and outlet Valves 29, 3i) respectively, controlling the steam supply from any suitable source, not shown.

A similar heating unit'is located adjacent the bottom` of the clarifier and controlled by the inlet and outlet steam valves 3l, 32. The tank 28 has the lower drain valve 33, through a filter 34 located on the bottom of this tank. The pressure tight sludge removal door 35 is provided at the bottom of this tank. A bank of filter units at 36 are arranged in the upper portion and suspended from the removable cover 31.

These filter units 36 discharge through independent valves and sight glasses such as 38, 39 and into the manifold 40, that is connected 3 through the pipe 4| and valves 42, 43 with the uid storage tank 44. This tank may be one of several connected through the pipe 4| with the clarifying unit, through independent valves and adapted to contain a variety of cleaning solutions respectively.

The conventional condenser comprises the Water jacket 45, having a condensing Worm 45' therein, connected through the pipe 46 and valve 41, with the top or the clarifier tank' 28 to'recei've and condense vapor therefrom. The worm discharges at the bottom through pipe 48, leading to a container for the condensation, or back tol the tank 44. Water is introduced in-tofthe'wsiter1` Liacket 45 through the inlet 49. AAn outlet from the water jacket is connected throu'g'hthe v'alveV 50, with the top of the tankr28. v

The cleaning fluid supplyfroma source such as 44, discharges through the pipe 4|, thevalve' 5| and the flexible hose" 52 into the tilting drum L During the washing cycle, a circulation' of t heated fluid under pump pressure is maintained in the washing and clarifying-unitslL-28.' To assure the maintenance of the desired temperature throughout the circulating system described,

especially in the drum 1, it is also provided with an internal heating unit comprising a spiral pipe having the steam inlet and outlet 58, 59 respectively.

The soilure from the garments or other contents of the tumble drum lBis mechanically removed by the lters at 3S, and is precipitated as sludge into the lower portion of the tank: 28, where it remains inert and'separated 'from the fiuid circulated by the pump 55.' These'- lter units as shown in Fig. 3, comprise the center pipe Sil, open at the' end. This is surrounded-by the wire mesh cage 5|, covered byasu'itble fabric filter pad 52, through which the uid seeps', leaving'the sludge on itsoutside,A from which it precipitates to the bottom of'thetan'k.

This invention is adapted tothe use off' any conventional cleansing fluids-such as hydrocarbon derivatives, carbon tetrachloride, Saponacious solutions and mixtures thereof, miscible or nonmiscible. One advantage of the present invention and its mode of operation', is the fact that one form of cleaning fluid'nlay be introduced and withdrawn and another or others substituted, during the cleaning cycle, Without shutting down, transferring the garments being cleaned, or opening the washing unitat 1, or the clarifier at 28. x

The mode of operation is substantially as follows: The selected cleaning fluid is introduced, for instance from the storage tank 44, through the valves 43, 5l, the flexible hose 52 and into the tilting drum 1. The pump 55 is then started, with the tilting tank in the horizontal position and previously loaded with the garments to be cleaned, through the doors l5, 20. The quantity of fluid in the tank i is regulated by the valve 5|, to the desired level, usually about'one third full, so that the `garments will rise, fall andjsplash into lthe liquid in the tumble-drum 6,

rather than to oat in an excess of fluid. The intake of iluid through the valve 5| is proportioned to the capacity of the pump 55, which withdraws the iluid from the drum l and discharges it into the clarifier unit 28. This builds up a pressure within the clarier which ejects the fluid therefrom, through the bank of filters at 36, into the pipe 4|, through the open Valves 42, 5| land back to the washer at l. A rapid circulation of warm clean huid is maintained under pressure during the Washing cycle. The desired temperature of the fluid is regulated by the heating units at 2Q, 3|, 53, as indicated on the thermoineter B3'.

When-the sludge has collected in the lower portion of the tank 28 to a uid contaminating extenuthe valve at 64 is opened and the usable liquid above is drawn olf and returned to the storage tank such as 44. The sludge is then withdrawn through the door 35.

When the sludge is removed, the clarifier may then be used for purifying the contaminated liquid in the tank 44. This is done by again pumping the liquid from the tank 44, through the tilting drum and back into the desludged clarifier tank 28, until it rises above the heating unit 29-3fv; The heat liberated in the clarier tank '28 causes vapors to rise from the Volatile contents and pass out through the outlet 46, the Valve 4l, the worm 45 tc the outlet 48 from whence the condensed fluid is returnd to the tank 44 for reuse. The Worm 45 is chilled by water circulating through the water jacket 45, from the inlet v49.-

Shouldthe temperature rise above the desired degree and cause a too rapid vaporization, this can be checked by opening the valve which will-inject cold water into the tank 28 and cause a drop of temperature therein. Thiswater will formafihn on top of heavier fluids, such as carbon tetrachloride, or descend through the lighter fluids 'and drop Vinto the sludge' sump at the bottom' of thertank 28, where it can-be withdrawn through the-drainvaive 33. The volatiles in the sludgeare vaporized by' thev heating unit at 3l, 32 and rise into theliquid above.

The washer operates substantially'as follows.l The latch Hl is released and the drum 'E swung to the horizontal position by the handle |4. In thisposition the latch l2 automatically engages to hold'the'drum inthe horizontal position.

The cover l5 is then removed and the tumble drum I8 manually rotated until its cover 2t registers' with the opening beneath the cover vI5. The removal of the cover i'permits ree'access to the interior of the tumble drum, which is then loaded with the garments to be cleaned. The covers l5, 2G are then replaced and the drum 'l is filled to the desired' height to saturate the garments with the cleaning fluid flowing from the tank 44' through the eXible hose 52.

The motor 2l is then switched on and the tumble drum IB is driven through the reduced speed pulley 22, until the contents ofthe washer is thoroughly cleaned by the rotary, splashing and agitation of the cleaning fluid circulating through the perforated wall of the tumble drum.

When the cleaning` cycle is completed, the pump 55sucks the cleaning fluidfrom the drum 1 and dischargesfit back into the clarifier tank 28. The latch |2- is then released and the drum 1 restored to the vertical position and driven at a centrfuging speedl` by the smaller pulley 22by the motor 21. This removes the cleaning fluid absorbed by the contents of the tumble drum l5,

ticular advantage of the present invention and i mode of operation is, that the dry cleaned inaterial is dry when manually handled, greatly reducing the hazards incidental to handling inflammable materials and contaminating vapors. Another advantage is the ease with which a variety of hydro carbon, soapy solutions and various cleaning mixtures, may be interposed and substituted during the cleaning cycle, without opening the various units in the combined washing and clarifying combination of elements. In

this manner soapy or detergent solutions may precede or follow dry cleaning iluids, and be washed out with clean water and extracted. The heating element 58, 59 also provide means for raising the temperature tothe boiling point if necessary in using Water and appropriate solutions in theA Washer unit.

Having thus described this invention and its mode of operation, what is claimed. and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

A dry cleaning machine comprising a mechanical washer having anenclosing drumj a storage tank for a cleaning fluid and discharging into said enclosing drum; a pressure sealed clarier tank having an internal heating element; a I'llter in said clarifier tank and discharging into said storage tank; a condenser to receive and condense vapors from said clarier tank and surrounded by a Water jacket discharging Water into said clarier tank; and a pump connected with said washer enclosing drum and discharging into said clarifier tank.

SIDNEY STRIBLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 498,830 Watel June 6, 1893 774,025 Barbe Nov. 1, 1904 1,072,299 Bedal Sept. 2, 1913 1,697,766 Hirst Jan. 1, 1929 1,775,699 Silver Sept. 16, 1930 1,795,006 Boiney Mar. 3, 1931 1,947,174 Sando Feb. 13, 1934 1,947,873 Norquist Feb. 20, 19'34 1,980,860 Hetzer Nov. 13, 1934 2,044,185 Pugh June 16, 1936 2,053,103 Passar Sept. 1, 1936 2,121,431 Hamm June 21,1938

, 2,138,858 Hjelm Dec. 6, V1935?.

2,142,995 Busi Jan. 10,1939

2,171,499 Busi Aug. 29, 1939 2,188,853 House Jan. 30, 1940 2,280,210 Zellhoefer Apr. 21, 1942 

